Media Advisory - Tuesday, September 22 - Montreal's seventh annual In town
without my car!

MONTREAL , Sept. 17 /CNW Telbec/ - The seventh Montreal edition of In town without my car will take place on Tuesday, September 22 . At the beginning of the day ( 9:30 a.m. ), the media are invited to the corner of Sainte-Catherine and McGill College for the closing of the perimeter and the official inauguration of the new car-free city. Dignitaries will then walk over to Saint James Church (the "City Hall" of the new car-free city) where there will be a short media briefing.

For this event, traffic will be barred from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the area bounded by McGill College and Saint-Urbain (open) and René-Lévesque and de Maisonneuve (open). The "Esplanade du Parc" (Sainte-Catherine, between Jeanne-Mance and Saint-Urbain) will be closed from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. so that equipment can be set up for the presentation of some of the events on the program, taking place from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

    
    SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY

    9:30 A.M. INAUGURATION (in two steps)
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    1- Closing of the perimeter and opening of the new car-free city

    WHERE:    On the sidewalk at the corner of McGill College and Sainte-
              Catherine

    WHAT:     Closing of Sainte-Catherine Street with barricades installed by
              police, ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the gateway to the new
              car-free city and arrival of dignitaries.

    2 - Media briefing

    WHERE:    In front of Saint James Church (the "City Hall" of the new car-
              free city)

    WHAT:     Short speeches, reading of the charter of the environmentally
              responsible citizen, signing of the golden book and one-on-one
              interviews

    WHO:      City of Montreal Representative (to be confirmed)
              Joël Gauthier, president and CEO, AMT
              André Magnon-Pujo, president, TRANSDEV Canada
              Laurent Paquin, spokesperson


    11 A.M.   VÉLO-QUÉBEC NEWS CONFERENCE
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    WHERE:    In front of Saint James church (the "City Hall" for the new
              car-free city)

    WHAT:     Announcement of winners of 2009 Entreprise vélosympathique, a
              contest for companies that encourage their employees to bike to
              work (three categories)

    WHO:      Suzanne Lareau, president and CEO, Vélo Québec


    NOON      SHOW
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    WHERE:    Phillips Square, corner of Sainte-Catherine and Union

    WHAT:     Free show hosted by Laurent Paquin and featuring the Porn
              Flakes and their guests. Visitors can hear David Tremblay
              perform, for the first time on stage, the new In town without
              my car! theme song, Un point c'est tout.

    WHO:      Porn Flakes          Élizabeth Blouin-Brathwaite
              Lulu Hughes          Patrick Bourgeois
              Martin Fontaine      Laurent Paquin (host)
              Sébastien Plante     David Tremblay (Part 1)
              Bruno Landry


    10 A.m. to 8 p.m. ESPLANADE DU PARC - EXTREME SPORTS COMPETITIONS
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    WHERE:    On Sainte-Catherine in front of Place-des-Arts

    WHAT:     Spectacular BMX, skateboard and inline skating demonstrations
              by internationally recognized professional athletes, to the
              exciting sounds of DJ Analog. A high-level competition will
              take place at the end of the day, beginning at 6 p.m.

    WHO:      Among the many competitors:
                    - Patrick Denis
                    - Simon Dravigné
                    - Charles Deschamps
                    - Éric Galipeault
                    - Stephen Bohn
                    - Maxime Compartino
                    - Vincent Daniel


    9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------

    SCHOOL

    WHERE:    North side of Sainte-Catherine between McGill College and
              University

    WHAT:     Visitors to the car-free city can learn more about future
              solutions for active and public transportation. Well-known
              cartoonists (Éric Thériault, Bruno Rouyère, Jack Ruttan and
              Pierre Sirois) will be on hand to create a live comic strip on
              proposed topics.

              Well-known street artist Roadsworth will create a huge canvas
              as part of Équiterre's "Cocktail transport - Créatifs et
              engagés pour le climat" contest.

    MARKET SQUARE

    WHERE:    Union Street, north of Sainte-Catherine

    WHO:      Visitors will be able to eat together in a festive atmosphere
              at a giant picnic table more than 20 metres in length

              As part of the worldwide Tck Tck Tck campaign, Le Commensal
              (leader of this initiative in Quebec), will be on site so that
              the public can take part in this large movement aimed at
              creating the world's longest petition to raise awareness of
              climate change among world leaders. There will also be product
              tastings for lovers of fine food.

    BOMBARDIER BUSINESS DISTRICT

    WHERE:    Around Phillips Square on Union Street

    WHAT:     Nearly 400 elementary and secondary school children will take
              part in SNC-Lavalin's Carbon Exchange game, in which they can
              win prizes while learning about greenhouse gases.

    COMMUNITY CENTRE

    WHERE:    Sainte-Catherine between City Councillors and Saint-Alexandre
              and in front of Saint James church

    WHAT:     More than 200 people will demonstrate tai chi, which will add
              an air of Zen to Sainte-Catherine Street! Free introductory
              courses will also be available all day long.

              Intergenerational improvisational activities on the In town
              without my car day theme will allow people of all ages to give
              free rein to their creative spirit while having lots of fun and
              entertaining the public.

    CAMPGROUND

    WHERE:    North side of Sainte-Catherine Street, between Saint-Alexandre
              and De Bleury

    WHAT:     Ecotourism experts will share their passion and expertise with
              visitors. Right in the middle of the city, with the sounds of
              birds and nature, tents will be set up on an actual grassy
              area. If you're used to concrete and traffic noise, this will
              definitely be a change of scene!

    OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER

    WHERE:    At the edge of the perimeter, corner of Sainte-Catherine -
              McGill College and Sainte-Catherine - Saint-Urbain

    WHAT:     Representatives from the Fédération interdisciplinaire de
              l'horticulture ornementale du Québec will be distributing
              plants to motorists who must drive on In town without my car!
              Day so they can offset their CO(2) emissions.


    (xxx) Six parking spots will be reserved for media on Sainte-Catherine,
corner of McGill College, and six on Saint-Urbain, north of Sainte-Catherine.
Vehicles must be clearly identified with the media outlet's colours to avoid
towing.

    For more information:

    www.amt.qc.ca
    [email protected]
    Customer service: 514-287-TRAM
    

For further information: Marie-Claude Leroux, Morin Relations publiques, [phone], ext. 224, C: [phone]; Charles Durivage, Morin Relations publiques, [phone], ext. 227, C: [phone]